Surgery Center Acquisition: A Focus on Eye Care Excellence

The Constitution Eye Surgery Center in Newington will become a department of Hartford Hospital, pending state regulatory approval. Jeffrey A. Flaks, EVP and COO of Hartford HealthCare and Hartford Hospital told The Hartford Courant that the acquisition of the center – which will carry the Hartford Hospital name – is consistent with the hospital’s goal of creating a center of excellence in an eye care and ophthalmology and “an essential program from the perspective of Hartford Hospital.” CESC has been the regional leader in ophthalmic outpatient surgery, performing approximately 11,000 surgeries a year.

Phase 1 of Campus Redesign Plan Approved

The Hartford HealthCare and Hartford Hospital boards have approved the first phase of the Facility Master Plan. This phase includes the construction of a new, 1,200-car staff parking garage and the further expansion of the Emergency Department to create 20 new treatment rooms. The new garage is part of a broader reconfiguration of parking on campus that will make parking more convenient for both patients and staff members. The ED work – which follows last year’s renovations and improvements – will provide more capacity and further improve the ED patient experience.

HH2020 Update

The Admitting Department is under renovation. This work is expected to last several weeks and will be performed at night. The door between admitting and the main lobby is temporarily closed; use the entrance by administration. Also, the Community Relations Conference Room (CRCR) will be closed from 12/20-1/7 for renovations and will be unavailable for booking. Please seek alternate space for meetings.

$1 Million Gift Honors Dr. Fox’s Work, Hospital’s Mission

Through his relationship with the donor and careful planning, Dr. Evan Fox helped coordinate an extraordinary $1 million gift to benefit the Quality of Life program being piloted at the Helen & Harry Gray Cancer Center. The Quality of Life program provides the support that individuals need to help preserve integrity and dignity during care. The program offers comfort and a sense of security within what can sometimes be a chaotic environment. Dr. Fox explained that the donor recognized an opportunity to provide for Hartford Hospital patients and to support Fox’s work as director of Consultation/Liaison Psychiatry and his role in the Palliative Medicine Consult Service. Fox also made his own generous gift to support the Depression Initiative at the Institute of Living and the Palliative Medicine Consult Service.

Philanthropy: Correction

In listing physician groups supporting Hartford Hospital’s 2011 Black & Red in our last issue, we inadvertently omitted Hartford Surgical Oncology Specialists from the list of sponsors. We sincerely regret the error.

HHC Oncology Group: Building Consensus on Cancer Care

Cancer physicians from across Hartford HealthCare gathered for food, conversation and networking on Dec. 2 at The Bushnell in Hartford. The evening was sponsored by the HHC Oncology Steering Committee, representing cancer clinicians from Hartford and Windham hospitals and MidState Medical Center. This group has been meeting for a year. It brings doctors together to lay the groundwork for a cancer network that stresses local care and seamless, well-coordinated access to high-tech treatment, when necessary, as well as sharing of best practices across the system. Elliot Joseph, President and CEO of Hartford HealthCare and Hartford Hospital, stressed the importance of building relationships among HHC providers as the network strengthens its support of cancer patients and their families across Connecticut.

Ellen Rothberg Named HealthCare Hero

Ellen Rothberg, Vice President of Hartford HealthCare and President and CEO of VNA HealthCare, has been named one of Hartford Business Journal’s HealthCare Heroes for 2010. She is one of only seven such regional leaders recognized by the publication. www.hartfordbusiness.com/news15873.html

Snakes on the Brain: Reptile Repulsion Research at IOL

The Hartford Courant describes an ongoing study at Hartford Hospital designed to shed light on how fears form in the brain and how the brain drives out those fears. The research team also hopes to get a better sense of how the drug d-cycloserine works on the brain.
www.courant.com/health/connecticut/hc-snakes-on-the-brain-20101129,0,1952369.story

Withdrawal of Propoxyphene Containing Products

At the request of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Xanodyne Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has agreed to withdraw Darvon® and Darvocet® products from the market. In addition, generic manufacturers of propoxyphene-containing products have been informed of Xanodyne's decision and have been requested by the FDA that they voluntarily remove their products as well. This development has been reviewed with Rich Gannon, Pharm.D., Clinical Pain Management Specialist, and his recommendations for alternative therapy include acetaminophen (2-4grams per day), NSAIDs, or low doses of opioids as viable alternatives. Please feel free to contact Pharmacy at 2-2961 or your Decentralized Pharmacist with any questions or concerns.